Controlling device



Feb. 28, 1933. H E KAVANAUGH 1,899,807

CONTROLLING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 22, 1928 E.' Mya/7am ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 28, 17933 yPATENT OFFIC HENRY E. KAVANAUGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CONTROLLING DEVICE Application filed August 22, 1928, Serial No. 301,338, and in Canada October 16, 1928. Renewed May This invention relates to certain novel improvlements in controlling devices, and has for itsprincipal object the provision of an improved construction of this character :which will be highly efiicient in use and economical in manufacture.

i @The salientiobject of my invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned charac tcr which Will be particularly adapted for controlling the electrical appurtenances on a sgi-called automobile.

.Y Another objection of my invention, ancillary tothe foregoing, is to provide a device vof the above mentioned character Which Will die, particularly adapted for sounding the horn fof a device of v-the above mentioned character ,and preferably this device is arranged in such fay lmanner thatl operation of the horn Will be .expe dited.

Other objects of the invention, also ancillary to the above mentioned, are to provide a .device which Will enable the operator to reg- .iilate the lights in accordance With his desires .and also to facilitate the dimming of the flights when passing other cars as Well as to .expeditiously control the so-called spot light. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

.I The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be herein- ,after described and claimed.

.. ,K The invention Will be best understood by @reference to the accompanying drawing,

.'shrmv'ing,the preferred form of construction and' in which ig. 1 is a view, partly in elevation and .partly in section, depicting a preferred form fof construction for my device;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan view of the devvice;

Q Fig. 3is a sectional view taken substanti ally on the line 3 3 on Fig. 1;

Figa is a vertical view depicting the various ajipurtenances employed in the device, the cover member having been broken away;

F ig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken sub- ,stanti'ally on the line 5 5 on Fig. 3

Fig. G is a vievv substantially similar to Fig. 43` depicting the parts in another position.; and

Fig. `7 is a diagram-matic view depicting the electrical connections employed in the device.

In the drawing wherein I have illustrated the preferred form of construction for my device 10 indicates the main casing member which is formed so as to be substantially cylindrical and which includes an enlarged portion 11 at one end thereof so as to provide a shoulder 12. Mounted so as to extend down into the main portion of the body member 10 is a core member of insulating material broadly indicated by 13 which is comprised of two sections 14 and 15 that are joined together in any approved manner and are formed to provide a central bore When the sections are arranged in the casing as shown.

In a portion of the member 14 is a reduced section 16 about which and through the bore a length of resistance Wire 17 is Wound. This Winding is carried out before the sections are joined in order that it may be. carried out in an expeditious manner and the utility of this length of resistance Wire will be brought forth presently.

The upper end of the core member 13 eX- tends into the portion 11 and disposed between this upper end portion and thel vertical Wall portion of this portion 11 is a. ring member 18 Which rides on the shoulder 12 and which is intended to be movable about the core member 13 in a manner to be set forth prescntly.

The sections 14 and 15 of the core member 13 have semi-circular depressions formed therein which co-operate to provide the central bore as above set forth and Which is indicated by the reference character 19. A substantially hemispherical cover member 2O is provided Which is adapted to be frictionally fitted on to the outer surface of the portion 11. This hemispherical cover member 20 provides a space between the upper end of the core member 13 and the ring 18, which are arranged so that the upper ends thereof are iiush, and the inner surface of said cover member. Adapted to extend through this space and in axial alignment with the core member 13 is a substantially cylindrical member 21 0f insulating material and Which in- Cil 5' ders.

cludes a protruding portion 22a which is adapted to extend downward into the opening 19 as best illustrated in Fig 5. Mounted on the member 21 is a substantially spider member 22 which will be described more fully hereinafter and this member 22 is mounted at a point adjacent the lower end of the cylindrical member 21. A spiral coil spring 23 is disposed around the cylindrical member 21 and extends between the member 22 and the inner surface of the cover member 2() and serves to hold the member 21 in vertical alignment with the bore 19. The member 21 extends through an opening 24 of the cover member 20 and is intended to be arranged in this opening so as to be movable in a manner to be set forth hereinafter. A handle member 25 is suitably connected to the upper end portion of the cylindrical member 21 on the portion thereof which extends through said opening 24. Y

At spaced apart intervals which in the present instance are spaced apart ninety degrecs, notches 25a are provided in the upper surface of the ring member 18. Also mounted in the upper surface of the ring member 18 are two arcuate contact plates 26 and 27 which are inter-connected by suitable leads indicated by 28. Arranged to extend outwardly from the boss which is provided around the opening 24 of the cover member is a pin member 29 and a recess 30 is provided in the underside of the handle member 25 and the ends of the recess provide shoul- This construction serves to limit the amount of movement that may be imparted by the handle 25 to the member 21 and this movement is intended to be slightly in excess of ninety degrees. Vhen the handle 25 moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 the member 21 is moved and therefore the member 22. Provided on the member 22 is an arm 31 which is formed with a lug 32. lVhen the handle 25 is moved in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 2 the lug portion 32 rides over the surface of the ring member 18 and drops into one of the notches 25a. Just following the time that this lug member 32 drops into one of the notches 25a one of the shoulders of the recess will engage the piu member 29 and limit further Inovement of the handle 25. Therefore when the handle 25 is moved in the direction of the arrow B, the engagement between the lug 32 and the shoulder of the notch 25a will cause the ring member 18 to have movement imparted thereto and this movement will continue until the other shoulder provided by the recess 30 will engage the pin member 29 substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2. This movement is utilized in a manner now to be set forth. t has been pointed out that a section of resistance wire is wound about a portion of the core member 18. This is disposed so as to provide a plurality of spaced 'member 22 is moved in the manner set forth hereintofore. A lead 35 which is grounded as shown in Figure 7, is connected to the member 22 and obviously therefor to the member 34a. It is therefore apparent that as the contact 34erl moves across the Wire sections 33 a greater amount of resistance will be successively cut into the circuit. At a point beyond the end of the wire lengths 33 a contact 36 is mounted on the upper end of the core member 13 and a lead 37 is connected to this contact member 36. Another contact member 38 is mounted on the upper end of the core member 13 and includes a portion that is adapted to be disposed above the path of travel of Athe arcuate lates 26 and 27 on the ring member 18. contact member 39 is provided on the movable member 22 which is also adapted to lie so as to engage the contact plates 26 and 27. A lead 39a is connected to the contact member 38.

Surrounding the cylindrical member 21 and secured thereto adjacent the upper end thereof is a metallic band 4() which is normally spaced from the cover member 20, but is adapted -to engage the cover member for a purpose which will be apparent, upon movement of the handle in an upward or downward direction. A lead wire 41 is connected to the band 40, and due to the circular end portion 22a which is arranged in the bore vof the core member, the cylindrical member 21 may be rocked by depressing or raising the handle 25. The spring 23 returns the cylindrical member 21 to its normal position and retains the band 40, normally out of contact with the cover member 20. When the handle is depressed or raised, the band is brought into engagement with the inner surface of the cover member 20, and thus a circuit is closed through the wire 41, the band 40. and the cover member 20 which is grounded through the medium of a wire 42 as illustrated in Figure 4. said wire 42 being connected to the main body 10 in any Well known manner, but in the diagrammatic View, namely Figure 7, the wire 42 is shown connected to the cover member 20 for the purpose of illustration.

Referring now to diagrammatic View Fig. 7 it may be seen that a suitable source of power is indicated by 44 which may be the battery of the automotive vehicle with which the device is associated. The negative terminal of this battery has a lead 45 connected thereto and which is grounded as indicated by 46. A lead 47 extends from the positive terminal of the battery and has connected thereto a lead that extends to one terminal of the main control switch 48. A main supply lead 49 is connected to the other terminal ot the switch 48 and a. supply lead 50 is connected to one terminal of the horn l of the automotive vehicle and the lead 4l is connected to the other te Sinin al thereof and the metallic hand 40. The lead 34 extends to one terminal ot the head lights of the automotive vehicle, which are indicated by 52 and the other terminal of these head lights is connected by a wire 53 to the lead 49. The lead 87 is connected to one terminal of the cowl or parking lights ot the automotive vehicle which are indicated by 54 and the other terminal of these lamps is connected by a lead to the supply lead 49. The lead 89a is connected to one terminal of the spo-t light of the automotive vehicle which indicated by 56 and the other terminal of this spot light is connected by a lead 57 to the lead 49.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 8 and with the main switch 48 closed the handle 25 will be moved in the direction ot the arrow A in Fig. 2. This will cause the contact 34a to successively engage the wire lengths 33 and thus cut a greater amount of resistance into the circuit which will obviously diminish the brilliancy of the head lamps 52. Continued movement of the handle 25 in this direction will eventually move the contact 84a from engagement with the wire lengths 33 and into engagement with the contact 36 which will extinguish the head lamps 52 but which will close the circuit to the cowl lamps 54. Attliis time further movement of the handle 2'5 in this-direction will be limited. However, movement of the handle 25 in the direction ot' the arrow B will. tend to move the ring member 18 through the inedium ot' the lug 32 and notches 25av so that the strip 26 will eventually be brought into engagement with the contact 38 and the contact 27 will eventually engage the contact 39. Inasmuch as these contact strips are interconnected by the leads 28 it is apparent that the circuit will be closed to the spot light 56. It is apparent that when the handle 25 is retracted that the ring member 18 will remain stationary until the handle is again moved in the opposite direction which will cause disengagement between the contacts 38 and and the contact strips 26 and 27 which will extinguish the spot light.

It is apparent that each time the handle 25 is moved in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 2 that the brilliancy of the head lights will be diminished and at the end of the movenient the cowl lights will be illuminated. By movement ot' the handle 25 in the direction of the arrow B the brilliancy ot the head lights will be increased and at the start of the movement the cowl lights will be extinguished. It is also apparent that on alternate movements the spot light 56 will be illuminated either depressing or elevating the handle 254 the circuit to the horn may be closed in the manner set forth hereintofore. I also wish it to be distinctly understood that while I indicate the lamp 56 as being the spot light of the automotive vehicle., the usual dim lamps of said vehicle may be substituted theretor without departing from the purview of my invention.

While I have illustrated and described the A preferred forni of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ot variation and inodilication, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modications as come within the scope ot the appended claims.

vHaving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device ot the class described, a casing member, la core member mounted in said casing member, a ring member mounted in said casing member at the upper end of said core member, Contact strips on said ring member, contact members on the upper end of said core member, a moving member carrying contacts adapted to engage said lirsty named contacts, and means carried by said moving` member adapted to impart a step by Step movement to said ring member as said moving member is actuated whereby a circuit through the contact members carried ,l

by said ring member will be alternately established and whereby the contacts on said core member will be engaged in a pre-deteriiiiiied manner during said step by step movement.

2. In a switch device, a casing, a coverA therefor, a core member of insulating material mounted in said casing and being provided with a central bore, resistance wire disposed about said core in a manner to provide spaced wire sections upon the top therey of, a cylindrical member of insulating material rising from the core member and having a reduced end mounted in the bore for rocking movement, a metallic band carried by the cylindrical member and being normallyv1`y20 spaced :trom the cover, a substantially spider member secured to the cylindrical member, contact means included in said substantially spider member, contact means on said core member and together with said wir-e sectionsv ing also adapted to rock the cylindrical member to cause the band to contact the cover.

3. In a device of the class described, a casing member, a core member mounted in said casing member, a ring member mounted in the upper end of said core member in said casing, a rheostat carried by said core member, a contact carried by said core member, and means adapted to move over said rheostat whereby to cut said rheostat into the circuit so as to increase the resistance thereof, said means being adapted to engage a contact on said core member after disengagement with said rheostat whereby to close another circuit and open the circuit having said rheostat therein, and Contact members on said ring member adapted to have a circuit closet therethrough by said moving member during alternate step by step movements thereof.

t. In a device of the class described, a casing member adapted to be electrically grounded, a switching mechanism in said casing, means for actuating said switching mechanism including a post member, a spring member disposed around said post member, a contact on said post member adapted to be engaged by said spring, and means extraneous said casing adapted to be secured to said post member whereby said post member may be rocked to bring said spring member into engagement with said casing whereby to close an electric circuit.

5. In a. device of the class described, a casing member adapted to be electrically grounded, a plurality of contacts in said ca.;- ing member, means adapted to engage said contacts whereby to close electric circuits, means adapted to support said contact carrying means, means for moving said contact carrying means whereby to cause engagement with said contacts, and means associated with said contact carrying member adapted to engage said casing when said contact carrying actuating member is moved in a plane substantially at right-angles to the plane in which said member is moved to actuate said contact closing devices whereby to close another electric circuit.

6. In a switch device, a casing, a cover therefor, a core member of insulating material ar 'anged in said casing and being provided with a reduced portion and a central bore, a length of resistance wire wound about the reduced portion and through the bore in a manner to provide spaced wire sections upon the top of the core member, a cylindrical member of insulating material rising from the core member and having a reduced lower end mounted in the bore for rocxing movement, a. metallic band carried by the cylindrical member and being normally spaced from the cover, a ring of insulating material mounted for rotation about the core and being notched to provide shoulders arranged at spaced intervals on the upper surface thereof, Contact means carried bythe ring, contact means arranged on the upper surface of the core and being engageable at intervals with the irst mentioned contact means upon rotation of the ring, means for rotating the ring and carried by the cylindrical member, contact means included in the rotating means, other contact means carried by the core and together with said wire sections being arranged in. the path of the contact means carried by the rotating means, and a handle .for rotating the cylindrical member for disposing companion contact means into and out of engagement, an d said handle being ada pted to roch the cylindrical member to cause the metallic band to engage the cover.

7. In a switch device, a casing, a cover therefor, a core member of insulating material arranged in said casing and formed from a pair of cooperating sections having semicircular depressions formed in the inner faces thereof to provide a central bore when the sections are joined together, one of said sections being provided with a reduced portion, a length of resistance wire wound about the reduced portion and through the bore in a manner to provide spaced wire sections upon the top of the core, a cylindrical member of insulating material rising from the core member and having a reduced lower end mounted for rocking movement in the bore, a metallic band surrounding the cylindrical member and arranged adjacent the upper end thereof, said band being arranged in spaced relation with respect to the cover, a contact member surrounding the cylindrical member and being secured thereto, said contact member being disposed for wiping engagement with the wire sections, a coil spring surrounding the cylindrical member to normally hold the metallic band out of engagement with the cover, a handle for rotating the cylindrical member for disposing the contact member into and ont of engagement with respect to the wire sections, and said handle being adapted to rock said cylindrical member to cause the metallic band to engage the cover.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HENRY E. KAVANAUGI-I. 

